200 Reformist and Principlist Representatives of Parliament: Raisi's Appointment 'Brought Hope and Joy to Society'

200 representatives of the Islamic Consultative Assembly from the Hope faction (reformists), principlists, and independents welcomed the appointment of Ebrahim Raisi as the head of the judiciary in a letter to the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic. In their letter, which was reported by the ISNA news agency, the representatives referred to Raisi's presidency as a 'worthy appointment' and stated that this action by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei 'brought hope and joy to society.' The mentioned representatives described Ebrahim Raisi as a 'weighty, people-oriented, revolutionary, and simple-living' personality, stating that his 'complete understanding and good record' in the judiciary would 'significantly help in advancing affairs.' The Islamic Consultative Assembly of Iran has various factions, but specifically, reformists in the Hope faction have '110 representatives' and principlists and supporters of Ali Larijani have '120 representatives,' making them the majority. The Iranian Parliament has more than 290 representatives. Ebrahim Raisi, who was appointed by the Supreme Leader on March 6, is subject to EU sanctions and was a member of a four-person committee in 1988 that decided on the execution of political prisoners. Human rights groups estimate that under the order of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic, more than five thousand people were executed in prison due to their political beliefs during the summer of '67. Previously, Hassan Rouhani, the President of Iran, congratulated Ebrahim Raisi on his appointment as head of the judiciary, describing it as a sign of 'the Leader's trust' and Raisi's 'worthy management' in his previous responsibilities in that judiciary. This congratulation came despite the fact that Rouhani and Raisi were rivals in the 2017 presidential election and had made sharp criticisms against each other. For example, Hassan Rouhani stated in one of his campaign rallies in Hamadan that people would not vote for those who 'only knew how to execute and imprison' over the past 38 years.